Northern Lights and fishing in one trip: the shoulder season

Checked on 05.10.2026. Dates for the aurora and the midnight sun come from the Tromsø tourist board. Fishing rules come from Fiskeridirektoratet. Both are linked where they are used.

September is the month where the two trips overlap. The fishing season at our camp at Vikran is still open, and the dark returns in the evenings. You can fish by day and look up at night, from the same terrace. Here is what that means in practice, and what it does not mean.

When the lights are possible

The Tromsø tourist board says the northern lights may be visible from late August to early April, but clear skies and darkness are essential. Source: Visit Tromsø September is inside that season. Our own pages count the season from 1 September to 31 March, which is the same thing seen from the camp.

The midnight sun is the other end of the year. In Tromsø it usually lasts from around 20 May to 22 July. Source: Visit Tromsø So a June trip has no darkness to speak of, and a September trip has plenty. You cannot have both on one trip. The shoulder season is where you get the night sky without leaving the fishing behind.

The lights are never guaranteed. They need a clear sky and darkness, and the weather decides the clear sky. Come for the fishing, treat every aurora as a bonus, and plan evenings you can use either way: a late supper on the terrace, a walk, an early night before a tide that suits the boat. If the sky stays closed all week, the fishing and the strait still made the trip worth it.

What fishes in September

Our season table for the strait shows what is on in September.

• Cod bite here all year, close to the pier. They are the reliable catch when the wind keeps other marks closed.
• Halibut are in the area from March to the end of October. The grounds begin about 100 metres from the pier. Read halibut fishing at Rystraumen before you go.
• Mackerel arrive in August and September, fast and easy to catch.
• Wolffish season runs from February to June, so September is not the month for it. Spring is: wolffish and cod in spring.

Redfish is closed to you in September. North of 62°N it is forbidden to fish redfish, except with a jig from 1 June to 31 August. Source: Fiskeridirektoratet If one comes up, check the rules guide first, fishing in Norway 2026.

The usual rules apply all year. Halibut must be at least 84 cm for your own use, and halibut over 2 metres go back. Source: Fiskeridirektoratet Tackle is handheld only, and you stay at least 100 metres from a fish farm. Source: Fiskeridirektoratet

Darkness and daylight in practical terms

In September the sun still rises and sets every day, but the days shorten week by week. The evenings are dark enough for the sky to matter, and the mornings are light enough to fish. Do not plan around exact hours. Ask us when you arrive what the light looks like that week, and plan the boat days for daylight.

A practical point for the boat: a chart plotter and a sounder are on board, but you still return before dark. Fish by day, go ashore, and keep the night for the terrace.

The terrace and what else there is to do

There are no street lights at the camp and a clear view across the water to Tromsø. Guests photograph the aurora straight from the terrace. Beyond the rod lists the rest: Tromsø, 35 minutes by car, prehistoric rock carvings about 10 km away, marked hiking routes, photography, and Sámi experiences by arrangement. The barbecue house and the terrace are shared.

On a day when the wind keeps the boat in, those are the alternatives. In a week plan they find their place in a week at Vikran.

What to pack for both

The sea here stays cold even in July, and the evenings turn colder as September goes on. So pack for being still on a boat and for standing still on a terrace.

• Warm layers, wind and waterproof outer wear, a hat and gloves.
• Boots with a good sole for the pier and wet decks.
• A flotation suit if you have one. We rent flotation suits at the lodge, and life jackets are free.
• A camera that can take long exposures, and a tripod, if you want to photograph the sky.
• Rods and reels if you prefer your own. We rent those too.

Booking September

Online booking at vikranfishing.no covers May to September. For October and other dates, ask us. The cost of a given week is worked out on the price list. If you are travelling for the first time, first fishing trip to Tromsø covers the journey.